Parish Profile for St

PARISH PROFILE FOR ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH TABLE OF CONTENTS Who We Are . 3 Our Mission and Ministry . 6 Gifts and Ministry of St . Paul’s . 7 Our New Rector . 13 Our History . 15 Where We Are Located: Carroll Gardens and Brooklyn . 18 Building Infrastructure . 20 Parish Finances . 25 Rector Compensation . 26 WHO WE ARE Many of us experience the contemplative space and authentic community at St . Paul’s as a refuge in an often hectic urban landscape . Believing that beauty attunes us to God, we value and invite others into an aesthetic experience of worship—through hymns, ritual, poetry, and the space of the church itself, which offers a palpable sense of the sacred as well as continuity with those who have worshiped here before us . Founded in 1849, St . Paul’s is a diverse, progressive- future . Our volunteer choir, led by our director of music minded parish of about 170 members who form a and our organist, is at the heart of our worship on close-knit community of worshippers . Our shared faith Sunday mornings . in God grounds and supports us in our daily lives . We draw on our Anglo-Catholic tradition to worship As listeners eager to understand and interpret God’s together in our uniquely beautiful historic church, joining word, we value sermons that apply scripture to our each Sunday to participate in a sung Rite I liturgy at daily lives with intelligence and spiritual insight . In our an east-facing altar, with candles, incense, and a relationships with our priest, we look for authenticity, choral anthem . While we are proud of our history and empathy, warmth, and spiritual guidance . tradition, we are also forward-looking, striving to live Joy in fellowship and a strong sense of community our faith in the world and to answer Christ’s call to love pervade life at St . Paul’s . Whether at coffee hour, at our neighbors with a spirit of openness and inclusion . a work day cleaning up the church together, or simply Music is integral to our worship and ministry . checking in with a fellow parishioner during the week, Many current members were originally drawn to St . we seek to connect with one another on a deeper Paul’s by its traditional worship style and music and level . When somebody asks you how you’re doing, feel strongly about carrying both forward into the they really want to know the answer and to offer whatever help they can . | 3 | During the fall of 2018, we conducted an anonymous parishioners are married or in long-term partnerships . survey to gather information about our parish’s makeup, About 60 percent of those who responded have values, and character . Seventy-eight current and advanced college degrees . While a variety of former members responded . In terms of demographics, professions were listed in the survey, those active in the survey showed that about 10 percent of the the arts made up 17 percent of respondents . Many congregation consists of “oldtimers,” who have been congregants live outside the immediate neighborhood members since the 1980s when St . Paul’s worked and come to St . Paul’s from all over Brooklyn and New its way back from being an assisted parish . The rest York City, both because they view St . Paul’s as their of our membership includes an ever-changing mix of spiritual home and because of the fellowship they have singles, couples, and families with children of varying experienced and friendships they have formed here . ages, toddlers through college age . The majority of | 4 | | 5 | OUR MISSION AND MINISTRY Our mission in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood is to invite people from all backgrounds and walks of life to join in our joyful, festive celebration of the Eucharist and in our fellowship activities throughout the year . We believe that the beauty of our church and of our traditional worship—and the warm and welcoming character of our congregation—are unique gifts that can be strengthened and built upon to help us share God’s love with others . Congregants at St . Paul’s value the role their parish We have already undertaken some activities along community plays in their lives, describing their fellow these lines, including keeping the church open regularly parishioners as “kind,” “embracing,” and “open .” We during the week; opening the parish hall to outside aspire to make that community more outward facing groups such as AA, Al-Anon, the Girl Scouts, and by engaging with our surrounding neighborhoods, a local music program for young children; opening including Cobble Hill, Gowanus, and Red Hook . the church to concerts and other cultural events, and advertising more effectively for St . Paul’s fellowship events such as our flea markets, auctions, and parish dinners . We see these activities as conduits to help people get to know us and pique their interest in our experience of worship . | 6 | GIFTS AND MINISTRY OF ST. PAUL’S Worship at St . Paul’s draws on our Anglo-Catholic heritage, bringing together ceremony and liturgy with a devotional, contemplative spirit . Sunday and Weekly Worship Services Staff We celebrate Mass each Sunday, sharing the Eucharist Apart from the rector, paid staff at St . Paul’s comprises together, praying, and reflecting on scripture . During the organist, the music director, two part-time sextons, the program year (October to May), we worship using section leaders in the choir, and childcare providers on Rite I in a festive setting with a sung liturgy, incense, Sunday . All other activities and tasks are undertaken by and choral music . During the summer months we volunteers who are either organized in guilds or who change over to a Rite I said Mass with hymns . step up as the need arises . Morning prayer is said in the Lady Chapel on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 am . On Friday mornings at 9 am, a Low Mass is held in the Lady Chapel . Nathan Taylor, organist and Alex Canovas, music director | 7 | Music St . Paul’s has a volunteer choir of about 14 members The annual summer Jazz Mass series, produced by a plus paid section leaders, who rehearse before Mass professional musician in our parish, offers a special during the program year and present the Psalm and opportunity to worship through music . We also host an Offertory Anthem during Mass as well as incidental many concerts by non-affiliated music groups and music . The choice of music emphasizes classical and provide rehearsal space to Sacred Harp shape singers . renaissance sacred literature but also includes modern and gospel selections . Over the long term, the growth Lectors Guild and rejuvenation of our choir membership will be There is a lector’s rota of about 15 members . Readings required for a sound music program, which, in turn, are assigned electronically . will help contribute to the overall growth of the parish . There is a split organist/music director position at present, with organist Nathan Taylor and music director Alex Canovas . | 8 | Acolytes Guild The Acolytes Guild includes nine children and adults . Altar Guild We have a well-equipped sacristy and four sacristans . Sunday School We offer volunteer-led Sunday School classes each week from October through May for children between the ages of 5 and 12 . Classes meet in the Rectory Sunday at 9:45 am before Mass . The hour- long classes offer a balance of worship, exploratory learning, and art projects related to weekly Bible lessons . During the year, the children conduct charity drives, including a food drive to support a local food pantry and a sock drive to benefit the homeless . At the end of the year, children put what they have learned into practice by fundraising for a charity of their choice . Children are also invited to take part in a children’s service during the Christmas season . Looking toward the future, we would like to offer music opportunities for children, most likely in the form of a children’s choir . We would also like to extend the Sunday School experience by offering a youth program, not necessarily on Sunday mornings, to continue to engage our teens who grew up at St . Paul’s . | 9 | Adult Christian Education Hospitality Guild We regularly offer a range of Adult Christian Education Fellowship is one of our greatest gifts, a solid foundation opportunities led by the rector and lay parishioners that we hope to expand on, perhaps by drawing on immediately following Mass on select Sundays . The the talents of the many professional artists in our midst to classes generally focus on basic education about creatively engage with the surrounding community . Christianity and the Episcopal Church, with the aim of welcoming newcomers to St . Paul’s and increasing their Currently, St . Paul’s hosts a popular weekly post-Mass comfort with our beliefs and traditions . Current and coffee hour, sponsored by parishioners who bring past topics include: snacks, set up, and clean up . We also hold special receptions following events such as baptisms and • Introductory Bible Basics class funerals for parishioners and non-parishioners alike . • Prayer Days: Workshops teaching different styles Social events, such as group dinners, are offered of prayer—including Ignatian prayer, centering seasonally . Everyone from the community is welcome at prayer, and praying the rosary—to help one these inexpensive, warm, and friendly gatherings . All explore one’s relationship with God proceeds are given to charity . • A class exploring Anglican identity and spirituality • A series of forums on racial justice and reconciliation in the church, including small group discussions, an interfaith panel, and community dialogue | 10 | Fundraising Ad hoc fundraising campaigns have enabled the The annual auction, held in December, is our primary parish to make capital improvements, involving fundraising event .

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